Fashion Merchandising and Retail

Program Outcomes

The Concentration in Fashion Merchandising and Retail focuses on developing:

• An introductory understanding of the fashion industry, grounded in professional orientation and communication, together with basic design principles and initial construction skills

• Introductory front-of-house (FOH) retail practices in a store environment, including participation in monthly events and seasonal markets, with a growing understanding of retail operations and customer engagement

• A consolidated understanding of retail according to apparel category, together with growing awareness of retail dynamics, business fundamentals, and the role of merchandising and buying within the fashion industry

• The capacity to apply foundational retail and marketing practices, including participation in social media campaigns and exposure to the responsibilities and operations of an FOH retail manager

Community and Professional Involvement

• Engagement through fashion merchandising, retail, and community programming alongside foundational design, retail, and customer service practice

• Community-based experiential learning involvement through store-based activities, monthly events, seasonal markets, and social media campaigns

Career Opportunities

Fashion merchandising assistant; fashion retail assistant; buying assistant; visual merchandising assistant; retail sales assistant; merchandising coordinator; social media or marketing assistant; entry-level roles in fashion retail, merchandising, and buying.